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Updated: August 3, 2024
Poynter assured him and politely begged instant and accurate knowledge of a number of things, of a knife and a bullet, of Themar's spying, of a cuff, of the man by the fire who read Herodotus, of a motorcyclist seeking for days to overtake a nomad. "I I dare not tell," faltered Themar, moistening his lips. "I I am bound by an oath " "To spy and steal and murder!"
Swept by a sudden gust of terrible anger, he gripped Themar's shoulders and shook him until the valet's face was dark with fear. "Why," hissed the Baron, "did you lie? Why did you go to the Westfall camp and attack Poynter? Why did you swear these scars came from a disastrous flight in a stolen aeroplane? Why have you been spying upon Miss Westfall when I expressly forbade it?"
"Very well, then," said Mr. Poynter warmly, "I'll take it out of your hide." Which he proceeded to do with that consummate thoroughness which characterized his every action, husbanding the strength of his long, lean arms until a knife appeared in Themar's hand. Then in deadly silence Mr. Poynter reduced his treacherous assailant to a battered hulk upon the towpath.
But his nights were fevered and sleepless and haunted by a face which never left him, and the locked hieroglyphics on Themar's cuff danced dizzily before his eyes. Carl presently lighted a lantern, seated himself at the camp table and fell moodily to poring over the tormenting hieroglyphics which had haunted him for days. The night was cloudy.
"Beautiful!" said Carl softly. "How cleverly you tricked me!" Themar shrugged. "It was very simple." Carl smiled. "Where is the paper now?" he inquired. Themar's face darkened. "When later I looked in the pocket of my coat," he admitted, "the paper had disappeared utterly. Nor have I found it since. It is a very great mystery " "Ah!" said Carl.
And there was something in Keela's eyes that sent the blood coursing furiously through Carl's fevered veins. The Indian girl busied herself with the wild duck roasting in the hub of coals. Carl ate a little and lay down again. He saw now that Themar's horse was tethered beside Keela's that the dead man's saddlebags lay by the fire.
He is laboring at present under the necessary delusion that your arrival here was entirely the result of my fastidious distaste for the personal services of anyone but a fellow countryman. Presumably I had cabled home for you. I prefer," he added, "that he continue to think so." Themar's eyes flashed resentfully.
Rather than work blindly as he needs must if he knew no more, he had sought to add to his information by spying on her camp. It was unconvincing. "So," said Carl keenly, "Baron Tregar does not trust you!" Themar's lip curled. "The Baron knew of your ten days in my cousin's house?" Again the marked hesitancy the flush. "Yes," said Themar. "You're lying," said Carl curtly. "If you wish to go back "
He slept soundly until morning. When he awoke it was broad daylight. There was a curious sense of utter rest in his veins and meeting Keela's solicitous glance, he said, a little diffidently, that he was better and that he thought they might go on. After a breakfast of quail and wild cassava they rode on, Keela on Themar's horse. Her own obediently followed.
"It is better," said Philip, "if I do not tell." Diane sharply caught her breath and stared at the sinister wraiths rising in floating files from the swamp stream. "Philip was it was it Themar's knife?" "Yes," said Philip. "And the man to whom you are pledged is Baron Tregar!" "Yes," said Philip again. "Why were you in the forest that night of storm and wind?"
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